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Science literacy has many personal and societal benefits that allows for better informed decision-making. Although the importance of science literacy is recognized globally, there are many challenges associated with its promotion. Scientists are more frequently engaging with nonscientific audiences through public outreach activities and with increasing support from institutions and professional societies. This is especially true regarding microbiologists and other related professionals since the start of the global 2019 coronavirus disease pandemic heightened the need to convey novel and rapidly evolving scientific information to lay audiences. The means by which professionals engage with these audiences affect the efficacy of the relay of scientific information. One method of engagement is the "ambassador approach," which aims to establish dialogue among different groups of people and scientists. In this perspective article, we discuss this approach, highlighting activities for the promotion of science literacy organized by the American Society for Microbiology Ambassador Program and similar programs of other scientific societies. We discuss the benefits and challenges of implementing an ambassador approach, propose potential improvements that could be made to existing programs promoting science literacy, and ultimately advocate for increased implementation of science ambassador programs. [This article was written on behalf of the Young Leaders Circle of the American Society for Microbiology.]

Introduction Four years after the revised International Health Regulations (IHR) went into effect and amidst fears that influenza pandemics and other disease outbreaks could seriously threaten the health of entire [...], Problem The revision of the International Health Regulations (IHR) and the threat of influenza pandemics and other disease outbreaks with a major impact on developing countries have prompted bolstered surveillance capacity, particularly in low-resource settings. Approach surveillance tools with well-timed, validated data are necessary to strengthen disease surveillance. In 2007 Madagascar implemented a sentinel surveillance system for influenza-like illness (ILI) based on data collected from sentinel general practitioners. Setting Before 2007, Madagascar's disease surveillance was based on the passive collection and reporting of data aggregated weekly or monthly. The system did not allow for the early identification of outbreaks or unexpected increases in disease incidence. Relevant changes An innovative case reporting system based on the use of cell phones was launched in March 2007. Encrypted short message service, which costs less than 2 United States dollars per month per health centre, is now being used by sentinel general practitioners for the daily reporting of cases of fever and ILI seen in their practices. To validate the daily data, practitioners also report epidemiological and clinical data (e.g. new febrile patient's sex, age, visit date, symptoms) weekly to the epidemiologists on the research team using special patient forms. Lessons learnt Madagascar's sentinel ILI surveillance system represents the country's first nationwide "real-time" surveillance system. It has proved the feasibility of improving disease surveillance capacity through innovative systems despite resource constraints. This type of syndromic surveillance can detect unexpected increases in the incidence of ILI and other syndromic illnesses. Probleme La revision des Reglements sanitaires internationaux (RSI) et la menace de pandemies de grippe et d'acces d'autres maladies ayant un impact majeur sur les pays en voie de developpement ont pousse au renforcement de la capacite de surveillance, en particulier dans les milieux a faible revenu. Approche Des outils de surveillance munis de donnees opportunes et validees sont necessaires pour renforcer la surveillance des maladies. En 2007, Madagascar a mis en place un systeme de surveillance sentinelle des maladies de type grippal (MTG), base sur les donnees collectees chez des medecins generalistes de type sentinelle. Environnement local Avant 2007, la surveillance des maladies Madagascar reposait sur la collecte et la transmission passives de donnees collectees sur une base hebdomadaire ou mensuelle. Le systeme ne permettait pas de deceler de facon precoce les epidemies ou les augmentations imprevues de l'incidence de maladie. Changements significatifs Un systeme de transmission des cas novateur et base sur l'utilisation des telephones portables a ete lance en mars 2007. Le service SMS (short message service) chiffre, qui coute moins de 2 dollars americains par mois par centre de sante, est desormais utilise par les medecins generalistes de type sentinelle pour le compte rendu quotidien des cas de fievre et de MTG diagnostiques dans leur cabinet. Pour valider les donnees quotidiennes, les medecins font egalement un compre rendu hebdomadaire des donnees epidemiologiques et cliniques (par exemple, le sexe, l'age, la date de consultation et les symptomes d'un nouveau patient atteint de fievre) aux epidemiologistes de l'equipe de recherche, au moyen de formulaires patient speciaux. Lecons tirees Le systeme de surveillance sentinelle des MTG Madagascar represente le premier systeme de surveillance a l'echelle nationale et "en temps reel" du pays. Il a prouve qu'il etait possible d'ameliorer la capacite de surveillance des maladies a travers des systemes novateurs et malgre les limitations des ressources. Ce type de surveillance syndromique permet de detecter les augmentations imprevues de l'incidence des MTG et des autres maladies syndromiques. Situacion La revision del Reglamento Sanitario Internacional (RSI) y la amenaza de las pandemias de gripe y otros brotes de enfermedades con gran impacto en los paises en desarrollo han motivado un refuerzo de la capacidad de vigilancia, especialmente en entornos con pocos recursos. Enfoque Las herramientas de vigilancia con datos bien programados y validados son necesarias para aumentar la vigilancia de enfermedades. En 2007, Madagascar puso en practica un sistema de vigilancia centinela para enfermedades similares a la gripe basado en datos recopilados por profesionales centinela de la salud general Marco regional Antes de 2007, la vigilancia de enfermedades en Madagascar se basaba en la recopilacion pasiva y comunicacion de datos recogidos semanal o mensualmente. El sistema no permitia la identificacion precoz de brotes ni de aumentos inesperados de la incidencia de la enfermedad. Cambios importantes En marzo de 2007 se lanzo un innovador sistema de comunicacion de casos basado en el uso de telefonos moviles. Los profesionales centinela de la salud emplean actualmente el servicio de mensajes cortos codificados, que cuesta menos de 2 dolares estadounidenses mensuales por cada centro de salud, para comunicar diariamente los casos de fiebre y de enfermedades similares a la gripe vistos en sus practicas. Para validar los datos diarios, los profesionales de la salud tambien comunican semanalmente los datos epidemiologicos y clinicos (por ejemplo, sexo, edad, fecha de visita, sintomas del nuevo paciente febril) a los epidemiologos del equipo de investigacion mediante formularios especiales para los pacientes. Lecciones aprendidas El sistema de vigilancia centinela de la enfermedad similar a la gripe de Madagascar es el primer sistema nacional de vigilancia "a tiempo real" del pais. Se ha demostrado la viabilidad de mejorar la capacidad de vigilancia de la enfermedad mediante sistemas innovadores a pesar de las limitaciones de recursos. Este tipo de vigilancia basada en los sintomas puede detectar aumentos inesperados de la incidencia de enfermedades similares la gripe y otras enfermedades sindromicas.

ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters are powered by a nucleotide-binding domain dimer that opens and closes during cycles of ATP hydrolysis. These domains consist of a RecA-like subdomain and an [alpha]-helical subdomain that is specific to the family. Many studies on isolated domains suggest that the helical subdomain rotates toward the RecA-like subdomain in response to ATP binding, moving the family signature motif into a favorable position to interact with the nucleotide across the dimer interface. Moreover, the transmembrane domains are docked into a cleft at the interface between these subdomains, suggesting a putative role of the rotation in interdomain communication. Electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy was used to study the dynamics of this rotation in the intact Escherichia coil maltose transporter [MalFGK.sub.2]. This importer requires a periplasmic maltose-binding protein (MBP) that activates ATP hydrolysis by promoting the closure of the cassette dimer ([MalK.sub.2]). Whereas this rotation occurred during the transport cycle, it required not only trinucleotide, but also MBP, suggesting it is part of a global conformational change in the transporter. Interaction of AMP-PNP-[Mg.sup.2+] and a MBP that is locked in a closed conformation induced a transition from open [MalK.sub.2] to semiopen [MalK.sub.2] without significant subdomain rotation. Inward rotation of the helical subdomain and complete closure of [MalK.sub.2] therefore appear to be coupled to the reorientation of transmembrane helices and the opening of MBP, events that promote transfer of maltose into the transporter. After ATP hydrolysis, the helical subdomain rotates out as [MalK.sub.2] opens, resetting the transporter in an inward-facing conformation. EPR spectroscopy | transport mechanism | membrane protein doi/ 10.1073/pnas.1006544107

Background: Since the start of the 2009 influenza A pandemic (H1N1pdm), the World Health Organization and its member states have gathered information to characterize the clinical severity of H1N1pdm infection and to assist policy makers to determine risk groups for targeted control measures., Methods and Findings: Data were collected on approximately 70,000 laboratory-confirmed hospitalized H1N1pdm patients, 9,700 patients admitted to intensive care units (ICUs), and 2,500 deaths reported between 1 April 2009 and 1 January 2010 from 19 countries or administrative regions--Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong SAR, Japan, Madagascar, Mexico, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Thailand, the United States, and the United Kingdom--to characterize and compare the distribution of risk factors among H1N1pdm patients at three levels of severity: hospitalizations, ICU admissions, and deaths. The median age of patients increased with severity of disease. The highest per capita risk of hospitalization was among patients <5 y and 5-14 y (relative risk [RR] = 3.3 and 3.2, respectively, compared to the general population), whereas the highest risk of death per capita was in the age groups 50-64 y and ≥65 y (RR = 1.5 and 1.6, respectively, compared to the general population). Similarly, the ratio of H1N1pdm deaths to hospitalizations increased with age and was the highest in the ≥65-y-old age group, indicating that while infection rates have been observed to be very low in the oldest age group, risk of death in those over the age of 64 y who became infected was higher than in younger groups. The proportion of H1N1pdm patients with one or more reported chronic conditions increased with severity (median = 31.1%, 52.3%, and 61.8% of hospitalized, ICU-admitted, and fatal H1N1pdm cases, respectively). With the exception of the risk factors asthma, pregnancy, and obesity, the proportion of patients with each risk factor increased with severity level. For all levels of severity, pregnant women in their third trimester consistently accounted for the majority of the total of pregnant women. Our findings suggest that morbid obesity might be a risk factor for ICU admission and fatal outcome (RR = 36.3)., Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that risk factors for severe H1N1pdm infection are similar to those for seasonal influenza, with some notable differences, such as younger age groups and obesity, and reinforce the need to identify and protect groups at highest risk of severe outcomes. Please see later in the article for the Editors' Summary.